FOREST PARK, Ga. (AP) — Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens says he and other state officials are expecting to present a $3,000 reward to a tipster who provided information on a house fire.

Hudgens says he and the Georgia Arson Control Board, Inc. are hosting an award ceremony Tuesday morning at the Forest Park Fire Department. Hudgens says the tipster provided information on a July 2012 fire at a house in the city about 10 miles south of downtown Atlanta.

Hudgens says the Georgia Arson Control Program allows people who supply information leading to an arrest and conviction in arsons to become eligible for rewards of up to $10,000.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.

Savannah professor wins grant to study plantations

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A Savannah college professor has been awarded a $50,000 grant to study historic plantations across the Southeast.

Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah said Monday a National Science Foundation Grant was awarded to geography professor Amy Potter. The money will fund a three-year research project in which Potter plans to compare plantation cultures in coastal Georgia and South Carolina, Virginia and Louisiana.

Potter says the funding will allow for a student to travel with her to historic sites in the state for field work and data collection.

Potter's funding comes from a larger $445,000 grant awarded for collaborative research to several college professors in various Southern states.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.

New chairman picked for ports board of directors

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A Gainesville businessman has been picked to serve as chairman of the Georgia Ports Authority board of directors.

Officials say James A. Walters, president of a financial services company that operates in Georgia, Tennessee and Texas, has been chosen as GPA board chairman.

Walters is the former director of First National Bank of Gainesville and is a member of several boards and other organizations.

Outgoing board chairman Robert Jepson says Walters' background in business and economic development will suit him well in his new role.

Officials say Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Walters to the board in 2012, and he used to serve as the board's vice chairman.

Walters says his primary goal during his two-year term will be seeing the Savannah harbor expansion project through to final authorization.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.

Man shot, killed in Atlanta apartment courtyardATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta

police were trying to find witnesses who saw a man gunned down amid a crowd of people in the courtyard of an apartment complex.

Police Capt. Paul Guerrucci tells CBS Atlanta that witnesses might be reluctant to come forward after the shooting late Monday night at the apartments on the city's southwest side.

Investigators tell WSB-TV that the victim was among several people standing in a crowd when the gunman bypassed everyone else and shot him. Witnesses said the crowd of people had been talking and drinking for much of the evening near a gazebo in the courtyard.

Detectives say they think several the victim's friends witnessed the shooting, but did not stay around to tell police what they saw.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.

Police impound SUV in hit-and-run investigation

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta police say they've impounded an SUV matching the description of the one that struck a bicyclist, critically injuring him.

Witnesses told police that the driver of a red Dodge Nitro appeared to intentionally run down cyclist Greg Germani on June 9, dragging him about 50 feet. The bicyclist was wedged under a parked vehicle. Atlanta Police Officer John Chafee said the incident came after an argument between the men.

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) — Officials in Gainesville and Hall County are considering a study to determine whether the runways at Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport can handle larger aircraft.

The study would test the strength of the runways at the Gainesville airport. If the runways can handle heavier aircraft, that could allow more business jets to land.

Airport Manager Terry Palmer tells The Times that he hears from pilots of business jets looking to land at the airport, but has to turn them away and suggest alternate airfields because of the Gainesville airport's current weight limits.

If the study shows the runways can handle the larger aircraft, the results would be submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration. The federal agency makes the final determination on whether airports can raise their weight limits.

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — A rodeo fan was hospitalized after police said he stood atop a gate and fell into a ring holding a bull, leading to a frantic scene in Athens.

A police officer said in his report on the Sunday injury that it appears the man was gored by a bull, badly injuring him.

The officer said an unruly crowd of people then began pushing each other, apparently trying to get to the injured man to help him. The officer, working off-duty as security for the event, said the bystanders were unruly and frantic. The officer said that when bystanders ignored warnings to back off, he dispersed pepper spray into the crowd.

The Athens Banner-Herald reports that the police report didn't identify the victim, nor did it provide details on the man's injuries.

CLERMONT, Ga. (AP) — The owner and site director of a Clermont daycare center have been arrested, bringing to three the number of people facing charges after authorities say a child was burned there.

The Hall County Sheriff's Office on Monday apprehended Discovering Basics owner Minnie "Sue" Dupree and site director Tara Miller both of Gainesville.

The Times reports that 66-year-old Dupree was charged with influencing testimony. The 40-year-old Miller was charged with second-degree child cruelty. Both women were to appear before a magistrate judge Tuesday afternoon. It wasn't known whether they have attorneys.

Earlier, daycare worker Eddye Pittmon of Talmo was charged with child cruelty after authorities say the 16-month-old was injured June 13. Pittmon's lawyer, Troy Millikan, could not immediately be reached Tuesday by The Associated Press.

DULUTH, Ga. (AP) — Gwinnett County fire officials say seven children on a daycare field trip have been treated for burns they suffered during a visit to a railway museum.

Gwinnett County emergency services spokesman Tommy Rutledge said in a statement that the children were on a full-size train ride in Duluth on Tuesday when hot embers blew from the train's stack and landed on the group.

Rutledge says the children, who were between 4 and 11 years old, suffered minor quarter and dime-sized burns. He says some children were burned multiple times.

Rutledge says the children didn't need to be hospitalized and the daycare has been in contact with parents.

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